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Selling copies of the Italian Catholic daily, Avvenire, in front of St. Peter’s Square.(CNS photo/Carol Glatz)

VATICAN CITY — Italian authorities estimated that perhaps as many as 200,000 people turned out for Pope Benedict’s last public Angelus address today with people gathered in St. Peter’s Square. The square was already full when I squeezed my way in at 11:15, almost an hour before the pope was scheduled to appear.

Damien McDonnell came to Rome with family and friends for the Year of Faith and to say goodbye to the pope. (CNS photo/Carol Glatz)

There were flags from dozens of countries as well as hand-made signs saying “You are not alone” and giant banners saying “Thank you, Holy Father.”

The pope was interrupted a number of times by spontaneous applause, cheers and chants of “Long live the pope!”

Damien McDonnell from the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin in Ireland was leading a six-person family pilgrimage to Rome to celebrate the Year of Faith. He was one of several people who talked to CNS about this historic moment.

This is a blessing for us that we were able to come and say goodbye. (Pope Benedict’s) writings are so phenomenal and my first thought (upon hearing he was resigning) was ‘Please don’t stop writing!’ His work is so important for us and the for the church today…The next pope needs to be, to an extent, conservative, to say it like it is and not be indecisive, afraid to make decisions. Pope Benedict wasn’t afraid to make decisions and the new pope needs to follow the same line.

Hrvoje Mravak is in Rome studying for the priesthood. (CNS photo/Carol Glatz)

Hrvoje Mravak from Croatia is studying theology in Rome as he pursues a vocation with the Society of Jesus.

I am very grateful to the pope for what he has done. He is a great theologian who always highlighted the importance of prayer. I like his humility and, in his mind, his resigning is the best thing for the church. We are praying for him and the new pope. (The new pope) should adhere to doctrine, of course, he should be open to the many cultures in the world, be a man of prayer, a good communicator, and humble and spiritual.

The Aguirre family from San Francisco took off work to be able to say goodbye. (CNS photo/Carol Glatz)

The Aguirre family (one brother and two sisters) from Our Lady of Mercy parish in Daly City near San Francisco took off work to come to Rome for the pope’s last week as the head of the universal church. Balthazar said the thing he will miss most about Pope Benedict is how he was able to be “the rock: solid, strong and unwavering and yet kind and compassionate and loving at the same time.”

US pilgrims hold the flag in St. Peter’s Square after Pope Benedict’s last Sunday Angelus. (CNS photo/Carol Glatz)

Maria Rosario Aguirre said:

He’s stepping down not because he doesn’t love us, but because he is aware of his age and is prepared to hand the job down to another younger person. I think (his retirement) will be a second vocation for him. He will have a hidden life that won’t be public, but his prayers will be a great help to the whole world. We won’t see him, but he will still have a real presence and impact.

The pope addressed an estimated 200,000 people in St. Peter’s Square for his last public Angelus. (CNS photo/Carol Glatz).

Simone Rascioni of the Diocese of Rome said she thought the pope’s request for prayers from the faithful “was very beautiful. He’s like a father asking his children for support.”

During his pontificate, he gave me serenity. I saw him as being a very peaceful person, a man of truth who guides people along a clear path with — as a German — his logical rationale. He was able to be so sure of himself because he is a man of prayer, knowing that God was behind him.

When asked about the furor in the Italian press over claims of corruption and scandal within the Vatican, Simone said:

We are all human and people can make mistakes. Instead of criticizing, we need to pray, that’s the responsibility of a person of faith. It doesn’t mean deny or hide from the mistakes, but criticism only destroys. We need to see the truth and build anew starting with prayer. Pope Benedict is an example of this when he asked forgiveness (for the sexual abuse of children by clergy). We also have to remember and recognize there are lots of very good people in the church. Nobody notices or thanks them, the only thing that makes the news is when someone makes a mistake.

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4 Responses

THank you. “God will see to it, He will provide”, a Shepherd after His own heart who will help continuously help the Church [like JPII and B16] to become “witnesses to the radical approach of the Gospel”. THe Church needs greater adherence to that radicality of following Christ, and get ready to ‘set ablaze the world’ with ardent Faith in Christ. May our Blessed Mother continue to protect Pope Benedict and bless his successor.

Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you! Papa Benedict has and is and will always be a great gift to the Church! Long may his prayers enrich the life of the faithful and of the new Holy Father who is soon to be elected. May all who teach, uphold, defend, and proclaim the word of God through his Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church follow the beautiful example of faithfulness and trust as set forth by our beloved Holy Father Pope Benedict.

Thank You, Lord for the great gift of the pontificates of +Bl. John Paul II and Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Both have been a source of true inspiration and have been powerful witnesses to Christ’s Presence and Spiritual Leadership. I firmly believe that Pope Benedict XVI will even have a more significant impact on the world when he retires to lead a life of fervent prayer and sacrifice.

It’s wonderful to see the faith-filled comments from different people coming from all over the world. May God’s Choice and Our Lady’s Choice of the next Holy Father be made crystal clear to all the Cardinals in the upcoming conclave through the Holy Spirit!

May Our Eucharistic Lord continue to bless, guide, and protect Pope Benedict XVI all the days of his life…and may his successor be greatly blessed to lead us all to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.”
May His Kingdom come! Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us. St. Peter, our First Pope pray for us! All the Holy Angels and Saints of God, pray for us!